Smithfield Names Football Coach

June 18, 2002|By MARTY O'BRIEN Daily Press

During three seasons as football coach at Jamestown High, Chris Fraser developed a healthy respect for the players at Smithfield.

"This is no slight to Lafayette or Southampton, but we knew when we played Smithfield, we were going to get beat up more than in any other game," he said. "That's just the kind of physical style they play."

To his delight, Fraser now coaches the Packers. He learned Monday of his appointment to succeed Joe Jones, who resigned in January to go into the insurance business.

Fraser inherits a program that was 1-9 in 2001 but reached the regional playoffs two of the previous three seasons.

"I couldn't have walked into a better situation," he said. "All the pieces are in place for a good football program. There are the blue-collar-type kids, a great athletic director to work with in Jeremiah Cuffey, and most of the assistant coaches are returning."

Fraser said that Miles Blount, a former head coach at Smithfield, will remain as defensive coordinator and that the Packers will retain their attacking 4-4 formation.

He added that assistants Tyler Mosely and Butch Turner said they will also return.

Offensively, the Packers will switch from the I-formation to the wing-T, which Fraser used with Jamestown.

Fraser jumped right into his new duties by supervising the team's weight-training session Monday.

"I'm excited about getting started," he said. "The team was young last season, but I've been in more difficult situations."

Significantly more challenging was starting the program at new Jamestown High in 1997 without the benefit of a senior class. The Eagles were 0-10 that season, but improved to 7-3 in 1998 and barely missed the playoffs. Fraser's final Jamestown team was 1-9.

Fraser resigned at Jamestown in 2000 to go into marina sales and later began his own painting business. He returned to teaching in January, taking Jones' place in the Smithfield physical education department.

Prior to coming to Jamestown, Fraser, a George Mason University graduate, was a high school assistant coach in Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg for 18 seasons.

"Coach Fraser comes with good credentials and was endorsed by some people I have a lot of confidence in," Cuffey said. "I'm very pleased he's on board and I'm looking forward to our working together."

Marty O'Brien may be reached at 247-4963 or by e-mail at mobrien@dailypress.com